Application of New Type Phase Change Energy Storage Devices on the Refrigeration Equipment

For the transportation of some perishable goods, the traditional cold plates, which are filled with solid–liquid phase change material (PCM), are usually used as the heat preservation devices in the compartment. Due to the disadvantages of long cold charging time and low cold release sufficiency, the applications of the traditional cold plates are limited. Since the heat transfer enhancement of the metal foam has been proposed, a tube-type of high-efficiency energy storage devices for refrigerated transportation are made up using composite PCM, which consists of copper foam (the heat transfer enhancement) and water (the PCM). The approximate solution of the theoretical cold charging time is induced based on the quasi stable state method. Via experimental study, the cold charging process and heat preservation effect of the devices on the refrigeration equipment are simulated. The cold charging time of the new type energy storage devices is shortened by 34.7% and the phase transition is more complete compared with that of the traditional ones. The thermal conductivity of the copper foam/water is 8.1 times as that of the pure water, so the entire heat transfer velocity and energy storage efficiency are obviously improved. The power-off heat preservation time is lengthened 17.5 times after the devices are utilized under the experimental conditions, which promises a prospective application in the refrigerated transportation field.